When the Unexpected Happens: How to Keep Your Cool at WDW
Written: Sep 27 '00 (Updated Sep 27 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Things to keep on mind so you don't lose your cool!
Cons: Something ALWAYS unexpected will happen!
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| ImAmes's Full Review: Walt Disney World |
You have spent hours, days, possibly even YEARS planning this once in a lifetime trip to Walt Disney World. You have made the hotel, rental car, and restaurant reservations. The plane tickets are paid for, and the bags are packed- then it happens- the UNEXPECTED- and now everything that seemed so planned and ready seems to be falling apart- DO NOT let it get to you and here are some pointers on how to handle the dreaded "unexpected" on vacation.
**Packing: Before you ever lay a shirt in that suitcase, make a list of EVERYTHING you want to bring, right down to your toothbrush! This will help you at least control one aspect of your trip! Everyone and their cousin usually forgets something at home, as I did as well. For me it was my sunglasses, a MUST for that Orlando Sun! Keep your cool, and check with your hotel and ask if they have the items you have forgotten, to either rent or buy. Many hotels carry blow dryers and curling irons at a rental cost, but is quite nice to have that option, when you have forgotten them at home!
**Getting to Florida: Either by plane or car, something will always happen that you didn't plan on.
Driving to Florida: Before leaving home,have your car fully checked over, making sure tires are adequate, oil is changed, and the engine is ready for such a journey. Make sure you have a First Aid Kit and aCar Kit which contains flares, a flashlight, and other things necessary if you would be stranded in your car. If you have Car problems, keep your wits about you and pull over off the road or highway and WAIT IN YOUR CAR, put your Hazzard lights on, and call for help if you have a cell phone. If you DO NOT have a phone, wait for a Patrol Car to help you out. Calm the kids down and have them color, keeping them busy and not letting them get worked up or scared.
Flying to Florida: You have just gotten on the plane, and you realize that you have left your carry on bag in the restroom. Keep your cool, tell the Flight Attendant that you have to get it, and calmly find it and return to the plane.
If you get your plane tickets at the gate and realize you didn't get the window seat you requested, calmly talk to the Gate Attendant or Ticket Attendants and see if you can switch with someone or get a different ticket. Making a scene will not help you or your kids.
Your flight has been delayed an hour, and the kids are starting to get on your nerves. This is when you pull out the books, keep them occupied with your mate and go get a cup of coffee, and relax to yourself for a bit in one of the nearby Food Courts.
Emergency Landing- again, to panic will stress out everyone around you, including your kids. Talk to your kids, that everything is ok and make it an adventure, telling them they get to make a stop in a new and different city while they "put gas" in the plane, or any other excuse to avoid a potential hazardous one. Better yet, tell them that you are making a special stop to pick something up for Mickey and his friends:)
Lost Luggage-if you find that you have luggage lost or stolen contact Personal of your Airline and remember to keep your wits about you. Look at it as an opportunity to get some free airline tickets and to also buy some new clothes for yourself:) Keeping a good outlook won't solve the problem, but it can help it!
**The Hotel: You have finally arrived safely at your Disney Hotel, and they CAN NOT find your reservations! Take a deep breath and ask to speak to the Management who will help you out. The nicer you are about it, so will they. Yelling and screaming about how dare they lose your reservation will not make you look good and not help you plead your case to management. To avoid this, make sure you bring your reservation number with you with any receipts from paying ahead of time, including your deposit receipt.
You get to your hotel room and realize that they have put you in a smoking room and you had specifically asked for non-smoking. Contact the Front Desk and they will accomodate you immediatdly. If it takes some time, give your luggage to the Bell Boy to store and hit the Parks for awhile.
**The Walt Disney Parks: Educating yourself before you leave will help minimize the unexpected, but sometimes a ride will surprise you and your stomach! If you feel sick and need to get rid of it, do not feel embarrased. If you have thrown up, get off the ride and get to the nearest bathroom without drawing to much attention to yourselves. Cast Members will clean it up and will make sure you are o.k. Don't let getting sick on vacation ruin it! Take it as a LEARNING experience and move on. Also if your kids get sick, make sure to be VERY supportive! I see to many parents YELLING at their kids for throwing up- it isn't their fault! Let them know that they will be o.k. and that everyone will take it easy the rest of the day.
Parks weren't what you expected? Again, it is what YOU make of it! Some people will like certain things than others, you can't please them all, or your family! If your little Tommy can't stand the Magic Kingdom, ask him why and help him enjoy it. Compromise is the key to a happy vacation as well.
**Disney Restaurants: Depending on which one you go to, anything can happen you didn't count on- bigger bill, too many noisy kids, food was terrible, or a bad waiter. Again, keep your cool and solve the problem head on. Explain why you didn't like the food, or talk to Management about your waiter. If the bill was bigger than you had expected, make sure that you always have "extra" money along for such an occasion. Make the best of a bad dinner and make sure that you come out of the experience a better person in the eyes of your family:)
**The Weather: This has to be the most unexpected thing for anyone on any vacation, but Disney World is a fortunate destination that doesn't shut down when it rains cats and dogs:) Don't get down in the dumps when you wake up to a rainy morning, look it as an OPPORTUNITY! A lot of people avoid the Parks on rainy days, making them empty and great to enjoy without the hassle of the sun or the crowds! Make it a fun adventure for your kids, buy some rain ponchos, located in practically every gift shop in the Disney Area, or have them bring umbrellas from home with their favorite colors and characters on them! Hop in puddles with your kids, and make it a special memory instead of sulking in your hotel room.
Last but not least..
**Lost and Found: Your child has just lost their favorite stuffed animal on a ride, and is nowhere to be found. Again, support them and let them know that Mickey must have found it and LOVED it and wanted you to have one of his (giving your child a replacement stiffed animal from Disney World.) Or contact WDW Guest Relations or Customer Service and they will do everything possible to help your child feel better. A friend of mine's son lost his favorite blanket while riding on the monorail, leaving it on as it rode away. My friend told her Hotel's Front Desk what had happened, and they found the blanket, giving it back to her son along with some Disney Dollars to help him feel better- VERY cool!
Losing money is a whole other ball park that can be devastating on a vacation! Make sure to buy Traveler's Checks so it covers all your bases, and if you lose your credit cards, to make sure to call and cancel them right away. Keep an open mind when you have a money problem and think it through before losing your temper about it!
I hope that if something unexpected DOES happen, that you are ready for it and that you keep an open mind and heart in the situation. And as always, have a wonderful vacation at Walt Disney World!
Recommended:
Yes
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ImAmes
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Member: Amy Joy
Location: Midwest
Reviews written: 174
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Love cures people- both the ones who give it and those who recieve it.
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